Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/22/2024, 11/18/2024 & 02/10/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
FOREIGN PRIORITY
A claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C § 119 (a) - (d), which was contained in the Declaration and Power of Attorney filed on 3/22/2024 has been acknowledged. Acknowledgement of claimed foreign priority and receipt of priority documents is reflected in form PTO-326 Office Action Summary.
CLAIM REJECTIONS - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to as ineligible under subject eligibility test. In the Subject Matter Eligibility Test for Products and Processes (Federal Register, Vol. 79, No. 241, dated Tuesday, December 16, 2014, page 74621), The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional device elements, which are recited at a high level of generality, provide conventional computer functions that do not add meaningful limits to practicing the abstract idea.
Claims 1, 14 & 27-28
Step 1
This step inquires “is the claim to a process, article of machine, manufacture or composition of matter?” Yes,
Claim 27 – “Method” is a process.
Claims 1, 14 & 28 - “Systems”, “Devices”, “Server” “Apparatuses” or “Non-Transitory CRM” are machines.
Step 2A - Prong 1
This step inquires “does the claim recite an abstract idea, law or natural phenomenon”. This claim appears to directed to an abstract idea.
The limitation of “a hardware processor that automatically recognizes a structure of a subject in a medical image and automatically adjusts the medical image based on the recognized structure; and an outputter that outputs the adjusted medical image.”, as drafted, is a process that, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind (e.g. mathematical concepts, mental processes or certain methods of organizing human activity) but for the recitation of generic computer components. That is, other than reciting “hardware processor” nothing in the claim element precludes the step from practically being performed in the mind. For example, but for the “hardware processor” language, “recognizes, adjusts, outputs” in the context of this claim encompasses covers performance of the limitation in the mind (e.g. mathematical concepts, mental processes or certain methods of organizing human activity).
STEP 2A – PRONG 1 - CONCLUSION
If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind but for the recitation of generic computer components, then it falls within the “Mental Processes” grouping of abstract ideas. Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea.
Step 2A - Prong 2
This step inquires “does the claim recite additional elements that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application”. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. In particular, the claim recites one additional element – using a “hardware processor” to perform “recognizes, adjusts, outputs “steps. The “hardware processor” are recited at a high-level of generality (i.e., as a generic processor) “a hardware processor that automatically recognizes a structure of a subject in a medical image and automatically adjusts the medical image based on the recognized structure; and an outputter that outputs the adjusted medical image.” such that it amounts no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component.
STEP 2A – PRONG 2 - CONCLUSION
Accordingly, this additional element does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea. The claim is directed to an abstract idea.
Step 2B
The critical inquiry here is does the claim recite additional elements that amount to “significantly more” than the judicial exception? The claim does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. As discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of using a “hardware processor” to perform “recognizes, adjusts, outputs “steps amount to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer component cannot provide an inventive concept. The claim is not patent eligible.
Dependent Claims
As to claims 2 & 15, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“hardware processor; generic image processing functions (rotate/trim/center”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 3 & 16, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“hardware processor; rotation operation”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 4 & 17, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“hardware processor; lookup decision logic using recognized structure/order info”), mental process (“selecting a reference based on anatomy/order info tracks human evaluation/judgment”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“selection/rule application around the core adjustment”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 5 & 18, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“hardware processor; stored reference data fields”), mental process (“defining reference parameters resembles human set rules/criteria”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“parameterization of the reference”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 6 & 19, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“hardware processor; stored reference parameter”), mental process (“wherein the automatic adjustment reference for the medical image is a reference for adjustment of a rotation angle of the medical image or a reference for position adjustment of a rotation center of the medical image”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“wherein the automatic adjustment reference for the medical image is a reference for adjustment of a rotation angle of the medical image or a reference for position adjustment of a rotation center of the medical image”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 7 & 20, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“hardware processor; anatomical/shape descriptor data”), mental process (“classifying/identifying shape anatomical part”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“how data is to be used”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 8 & 21, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“storage/memory and hardware processor”), mental process (“deciding whether to adjust based on part/order info mirrors human decision making”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“storing flags and deciding whether to proceed or not”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 9 & 22, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“storage/memory and hardware processor”), mental process (“rule following selection per item resembles human judgment application of protocols”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“storing configuration and selecting which steps to run is IESA”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 10 & 23, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“storage/memory and hardware processor”), mental process (“choosing reference based on recognized part/order”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“storing/looking up references”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 11 & 24, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“storage/memory and hardware processor”), mental process (“picking setting multiple reference items”) and insignificant extra-solution activity (“multi field storage selection”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 12 & 25, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“medical image”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
As to claims 13 & 26, this claim is directed to generic computer components (“learned model and hardware processor”). Thus, this claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more than the abstract.
CLAIM REJECTIONS - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-7, 10-12, 14-20, 23-25 & 27-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) (1) as being anticipated by Weimker et al. (U.S. Publication 2010/0246910)
As to claims 1, 14 & 27-28, Weimker discloses a hardware processor that automatically recognizes a structure of a subject in a medical image (101, Fig. 1 & Abstract discloses extracting anatomical structure. See [0038-0039]) and automatically adjusts the medical image based on the recognized structure ([0005-0008, 0016, 0041] discloses orientation may be changed by rotating the image and the medical image is realigned until a threshold.); and an outputter that outputs the adjusted medical image ([0016, 0044, 0046-0047] discloses realigned medical image may be presented to the clinician for a quick verification).
As to claims 2 & 15, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the automatic adjustment of the medical image includes at least one of adjustment of a rotation angle of the medical image, position adjustment of a rotation center of the medical image, adjustment of trimming of the medical image, and position adjustment of a trimming center of the medical image. ([0016, 0041] discloses rotating the image.)
As to claims 3 & 16, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the automatic adjustment of the medical image is adjustment of a rotation angle of the medical image or position adjustment of a rotation center of the medical image. ([0016, 0041] discloses rotating the image.)
As to claims 4 & 17, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the hardware processor determines, based on the recognized structure or imaging order information on the medical image, an automatic adjustment reference for automatically adjusting the medical image. ([0007-0008, 0015, 0024, 0039] discloses determining whether the extracted anatomical areas correspond to reference anatomical areas, the reference anatomical areas having associated thereto data indicating a correct orientation.)
As to claims 5 & 18, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 4 & 17 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the automatic adjustment reference for the medical image includes at least one of a reference for adjustment of a rotation angle of the medical image, a reference for position adjustment of a rotation center of the medical image, a reference for adjustment of trimming of the medical image, and a reference for position adjustment of a trimming center of the medical image. ([0007-0008, 0015-0016, 0041] discloses orientation data used as a basis for rotation/realignment.)
As to claims 6 & 19, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 4 & 17 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the automatic adjustment reference for the medical image is a reference for adjustment of a rotation angle of the medical image or a reference for position adjustment of a rotation center of the medical image. ([0007-0008, 0015-0016, 0041] discloses reference orientation data framework)
As to claims 7 & 20, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 4 & 17 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the automatic adjustment reference is information indicating a shape of an imaging part as an imaging target or an anatomical part of the imaging part. ([0014, 0042, 0036-0038] discloses reference anatomical area examples and “area/anatomical area” and shape based alignment via contours/shape features)
As to claims 10 & 23, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses a storage where each imaging part as an imaging target is associated and stored with an automatic adjustment reference for automatically adjusting the medical image, wherein the hardware processor determines the automatic adjustment reference based on an imaging part as the imaging target, the imaging part being the recognized structure, or imaging order information on the medical image. ([0015, 0036-0039, 0046] discloses pre stored reference anatomical areas/images with associated orientation data, selected/used based on the anatomical area being processed.)
As to claims 11 & 24, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein an automatic adjustment reference for automatically adjusting the medical image has a plurality of items, wherein the medical image output apparatus further comprises a storage where each imaging part as an imaging target is associated and stored with each item of the plurality of items of the automatic adjustment reference, and wherein the hardware processor determines the each item of the plurality of items of the automatic adjustment reference based on an imaging part as the imaging target, the imaging part being the recognized structure, or imaging order information on the medical image. ([0012, 0015-0017, 0038, 0042 discloses multiple reference aspects used in alignment (reference images/areas plus similarity/threshold plus contour/shape features, tied to specific anatomical areas/modules. )
As to claims 12 & 25, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses wherein the medical image is a radiographic image. ([0012, 0038] discloses X-ray as an example modality for which modules may be designed. )
CLAIM REJECTIONS - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 8-9, 13, 21-22 & 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
Weimker et al. (U.S. Publication 2010/0246910) in view of Yeluri et al. (U.S. Publication 2010/0080427)
As to claims 8 & 21, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 4 & 17 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses automatic correction based on recognized anatomy. ([0005-0008, 0038-0041, 0046])
Weimker is silent to a stored per imaging part enable disable flag.
However, Yeluri discloses storing and selecting default protocol/hanging protocol behavior based on modality/anatomy/procedure and header/order info i.e. a stored rule set controlling whether/how processing is applied for a given exam type: [0009-0011, 0023] discloses hanging protocol allow display based on modality, anatomy and procedure.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing to modify Weimker’s disclosure to include the above limitations in order to make Weimker’s automatic adjustment selectively enabled/disabled per recognized body region/procedure and improve workflow configurability.
As to claims 9 & 22, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 4 & 17 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses multiple adjustment operations used during realignment attempts. ([0016, 0041])
Weimker is silent to storing, per imaging part, whether to perform each item of a plurality of adjustment items.
However, Yeluri discloses DDP that applied a series of image processing functions (i.e. multiple items) and (via hanging protocol/protocol rules) ties what is applied to modality/anatomy/procedure: [0010, 0023, 0038] discloses a series of processing steps/functions; Example processing steps/functions include flipping/rotation, zooming, panning, brightness/contrast; Protocol rules based on modality/body part/procedure.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing to modify Weimker’s disclosure to include the above limitations in order to store and control, per exam/anatomy type, which adjustment items are executed.
As to claims 13 & 26, Weimker discloses everything as disclosed in claims 1 & 14 respectively. In addition, Weimker discloses structure recognition via algorithms for object detection/segmentation. ([0038])
Weimker is silent to a learned model obtained by machine learning.
However, Yeluri discloses wherein the hardware processor uses a learned model obtained by machine learning ([0087-0089]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing to modify Weimker’s disclosure to include the above limitations in order to improve robustness/accuracy of anatomical classification and the downstream adjustment decision.
CONCLUSION
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Stephen P Coleman whose telephone number is (571)270-5931. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8AM-5PM.
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Stephen P. Coleman
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2675
/STEPHEN P COLEMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2675